Relation between trunk fat volume and reduction of total lung capacity in obese men

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 112; no. 1; pp. 118 - 126
• Main Authors: WATSON, R. A, PRIDE, N. B, LOUISE THOMAS, E, IND, P. W, BELL, J. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Physiological Society 2012
• Subjects: Abdominal Fat - physiology; Anthropometry; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition - physiology; Body fat; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Lung Volume Measurements; Lungs; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Men; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - physiopathology; Physiology; Total Lung Capacity - physiology; Human; Obesity; magnetic resonance imaging; Lung; Nutrition disorder; Respiratory system; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Vertebrata; Mammalia; trunk fat distribution; Distribution; Fat; intrathoracic volume; abdominal volume; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00217.2011

Reduction in total lung capacity (TLC) in obese men is associated with restricted expansion of the thoracic cavity at full inflation. We hypothesized that thoracic expansion was reduced by the load imposed by increased total trunk fat volume or its distribution. Using MRI, we measured internal and subcutaneous trunk fat and total abdominal and thoracic volumes at full inflation in 14 obese men [mean age: 52.4 yr, body mass index (BMI): 38.8 (range: 36-44) kg/m(2)] and 7 control men [mean age: 50.1 yr, BMI: 25.0 (range: 22-27.5) kg/m(2)]. TLC was measured by multibreath helium dilution and was restricted (<80% of the predicted value) in six obese men (the OR subgroup). All measurements were made with subjects in the supine position. Mean total trunk fat volume was 16.65 (range: 12.6-21.8) liters in obese men and 6.98 (range: 3.0-10.8) liters in control men. Anthropometry and mean total trunk fat volumes were similar in OR men and obese men without restriction (the ON subgroup). Mean total intraabdominal volume was 9.41 liters in OR men and 11.15 liters in ON men. In obese men, reduced thoracic expansion at full inflation and restriction of TLC were not inversely related to a large volume of 1) intra-abdominal or total abdominal fat, 2) subcutaneous fat volume around the thorax, or 3) total trunk fat volume. In addition, trunk fat volumes in obese men were not inversely related to gas volume or estimated intrathoracic volume at supine functional residual capacity. In conclusion, this study failed to support the hypotheses that restriction of TLC or impaired expansion of the thorax at full inflation in middle-aged obese men was simply a consequence of a large abdominal volume or total trunk fat volume or its distribution.